The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-12
Was 1t Luck !
BY NED GWEN.

to stand-still just as a runaway
horse dragging but fragment Of a
carriage dashed past. Men, women
and children ran i'm various directions,
some of them trying to keep out of
the horses track, and others, more
venturesOme, making Intellectual at
tempts to seize the dangling bride.
Mr.. Lord was unfolding 1.-THE Bee"
which always reached him about the
time he started "dOwn town. when
the commotion outside attracted his
attention.
"Look out for your old basket u'-
and a slight kick completely ovcrturn-
cd it. In their haste and excitement.
4 colored woman and two boys had
actually colidcd at the same time,
finding street car an unyielding
background.
Herbert Atkinson, nearly tumbling
into the basket of freshly laundcred
clothes, which the woman in her
fright had dropped, Indignantly ap-
piled the force necessary to scatter the
immaculate linen upon the dusty
street.
With q fierce scowl and muttered
oath, he Immediately sprang upon the
car. Other vehicles standing near,
completely blocked the passage, and
while trouble was imminent (for the
drivers were loud in cXpostulatiom,
Mr.. Lord gave his attention to the
scene just under his window.
''IiXcuse me, madam" said the 9TH
er boy, lifting his hat, which he was
in the act of placing on his head, after
picking himself up from the pave
mcnt, where he for moment had fall
Ell, when, during the scramble for
safety, both the woman and Herbert
had drought up" against him.
Eyer didn't do it honey, yer noways
ter blame" was the answer.
AS she reached for her basket, she
gr0ancd, and George Graham eXc|aim-
ed. "Are You durt?" and while she
with one hand was tightly holding the
bruised and sprained wrist, he was
very carefully gathering up the now
solcd garments, brushing, shaking
and folding.
When the car started, everything
had been arranged, and the manly lad
was walking away with the washer
woman's load.
Mr.. Lord returned to his paper, first
looking ut his own advertisement,
which read something like this;
"Wantcd, at this Office, an honest
and gentlemanly boy, about sixteen
years of aye, who has q home in the
city. None but all apt scholar, and
one well-recommended need apply.
Call at twelve o'clock to-day"
Mr.. Lords experience in advertising
was such that lie congratulated him.
self on the short notice he had given,
trusting that the right boy would he on
hand, and he not panied as he would
he if obliged to turn away many appli-
cants for the place.
\ little before noon. his wife came
in for chat, leaving ther little Annie
with him for an hour, rs was her Gus
tom when out at this time.
"Papa'S little Rest has come, has
she ?" as he took the child in his lap.
1t was one of his happy hours, he often
said, when he gave himself up to 4
frolic with his little girl
80, Pa, Dinah has hurt her hand
and tumbled down in the street. IT
was something about a horse and a cor,
any way, mamma has packed Il bas-
ket of food for her and taken her
home. 1t was no matter bout the
tumbled clothes, mamma told her.
"Yes, dear, but who is Dinah >" see
ing that the child was too much inter-
ested to think of anything else just
then.
"Oh, she helps Mary wash, and
sometimes takes the clothes home with
her." "Pa, there is the very boy who
brought the basket for her, coming
here" us she looked from the window.
at is twelve o'clock, darling, and |
must attend TO little business. You
may stay here with me-"
"John." through Il speaking tube,
"you may send up the boys in the or
der i'm which they come.
"Good morning' and q youth pO-
litely removed his hat, as he respond
ed to the pleasant greeting.
A prrpOsscssing face and evidently Il
wcll-informcd boy of sixteen, bright
and active, with Il letter from Il we'll
known man, which read something
like this "Jamrs Armstrong is the
son of an old friend of mine. He is 4
fine scholar. Please give him Il place
and ohlige,' etc.
.'Wcll, James, ! like your looks, and
| do not doubt your ability, but | no.
ticcd the stump Of Il cigar in your fin
gers as you came in, and your clothes
are filled with the ndor of tobacco.
How long have you smoked"
"Two years or more" lie answered.,
looking rcScntfully at the gentleman.
though he had the grace to blush.
"My boy, do you know you are SOW
ing seeds of miscry?
at rests me to Smokc.'
"Rcsts you! All, poor child, !
might preach you long sermon, tell
of the blightcd lives, ruined nerves,
and empty pockets, but forbear. My
lad, learn lesson, throw it away be-
fore il is too late. I'll excuse you
nOw.n
The boy went ont in Il staggering,
way, muttcrlng something
about "taking away mans liberty
Pityimgly, Mr.. Lord saw him dc.
part. The next hoy WAS clean and
pure to look at. and handed his recon-
to Mr.. Lord in very self
satisfied way. The gentleman, with
the scene Of the morning fresh in his
mind, even when he read the compli-
words, written by his own
could not say "lrs" to such
,n applicant. lie had no doubt of his
fine scholarship, and his general APP
pcarancc was greatly i'll his favor, but,
he said, "Hcrbcrl, | came down on
car No this morning and witnessed Il
little scene that you will recall. | adj
yerlisrd for gentlemanly lad. III
excuse you, now"
With hot checks, he departed.
,.I 1, E,,., e.,